Speech Transmission Method And Apparatus And Speech Service System

ABSTRACT

A speech transmission method and apparatus include receiving at least one speech request packet sequentially sent by a terminal. Each speech request packet carries one speech data segment of the speech stream, an offset position, and a data length. The method includes generating a speech response packet corresponding to the speech request packet according to the speech request packet and other received speech request packets corresponding to the speech stream. The speech response packet carries an expected offset position and an expected data length. The method includes feeding back the speech response packet to the terminal, so that the terminal can make a determination for sending the next speech request packet according to the speech response packet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2015/072378, filed on Feb. 6, 2015. This application claims thebenefit and priority of Chinese Application No. 201310661738.8, filedDec. 9, 2013. The entire disclosures of each of the above applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to communication technology field, and tospeech transmission.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

As speech service technology matures and progresses, many applicationsprovide the functionality of speech service. A speech service systemtypically includes a terminal and a server.

In speech recognition, for example, a terminal sends a server a speechrequest which carries speech data to be recognized. Correspondingly,after recognizing the speech data, the server feeds back a speechresponse carrying a recognition result to the terminal. In order toshorten the response time of the server for the speech request,streaming is a desirable mode for speech transmission. Throughstreaming, the transmission and recognition of a speech stream is notcompleted by one speech request, but by dividing the entire speechstream into a number of pieces of speech data segments according tocertain rules, and when the user talks, the terminal, at the same time,begins to send the speech requests carrying the speech data segments oneby one to the server for speech recognition. Thus, multiplexing isperformed for talk time and time for transmitting the speech between theterminal and the server, i.e. when the user begins to talk, the serverbegins to perform speech recognition, thus the response time of theserver for the speech requests is significantly shortened.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a speech transmissionmethod and apparatus and a speech service system, to improve theaccuracy of processing the speech stream, or even where the speechstream cannot be processed during the speech transmission due to packetloss, duplication, and disorder. The technical approaches are as follow.

According to a first aspect, a speech transmission method is providedand the method includes:

receiving at least one speech request packet sequentially sent by aterminal, wherein each speech request packet carries one speech datasegment of a speech stream, an offset position of the speech datasegment in the speech stream, and a data length of the speech datasegment;

for each speech request packet, generating a speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet according to the speechrequest packet and other received speech request packets correspondingto the speech stream, wherein the speech response packet carries anexpected offset position and an expected data length, wherein theexpected offset position is the expected offset position in the speechstream of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by a server, and the expected data length is the expectedlength of the data of the speech data segment in the next speech requestpacket that is received by the server; and

feeding back the speech response packet to the terminal, so that theterminal can make a determination for sending the next speech requestpacket according to the speech response packet.

According to a second aspect, a speech transmission method is provided,and the method includes:

sequentially sending a server at least one speech request packet,wherein each speech request packet carries one speech data segment ofthe speech stream, an expected offset position of the speech datasegment in the speech stream, and a data length of the speech datasegment;

receiving a speech response packet that is sent by the server andcorresponds to the speech request packet, wherein the speech responsepacket is generated by the server according to the speech request packetand other received speech request packets corresponding to the speechstream; the speech response packet carries the expected offset positionand the expected data length, wherein the expected offset position isthe expected offset position in the speech stream of a speech datasegment in a next speech request packet that is received by the server,and the expected data length is the expected length of the data of thespeech data segment in the next speech request packet that is receivedby the server; and

making a determination for sending the next speech request packetaccording to the speech response packet.

According to a third aspect, a speech transmission apparatus isprovided, and the apparatus includes:

a request receiving module, adapted to receive at least one speechrequest packet sequentially sent by a terminal, wherein each speechrequest packet carries one speech data segment of the speech stream, anoffset position of the speech data segment in the speech stream, and adata length of the speech data segment;

a response generating module, adapted to, for each speech requestpacket, generate a speech response packet corresponding to the speechrequest packet according to the speech request packet and other receivedspeech request packets corresponding to the speech stream, wherein thespeech response packet carries the expected offset position and theexpected data length, wherein the expected offset position is theexpected offset position, in the speech stream, of the speech datasegment in a next speech request packet that is received by the server,and the expected data length is the expected length of the data of thespeech data segment in the next speech request packet that is receivedby the server; and

a response feedback module, adapted to feed back the speech responsepacket to the terminal, so that the terminal can make a determinationfor sending the next speech request packet according to the speechresponse packet.

According to a fourth aspect, a speech transmission apparatus isprovided, and the apparatus includes:

a request sending module, adapted to sequentially send a server at leastone speech request packet, wherein each speech request packet carriesone speech data segment of the speech stream, an expected offsetposition of the speech data segment in the speech stream, and a datalength of the speech data segment;

a response receiving module, adapted to receive the speech responsepacket that is sent by the server and corresponds to the speech requestpacket, wherein the speech response packet is generated by the serveraccording to the speech request packet and other received speech requestpackets corresponding to the speech stream, the speech response packetcarries the expected offset position, and the expected data length,wherein the expected offset position is the expected offset position, inthe speech stream, of a speech data segment in a next speech requestpacket that is received by the server; and the expected data length isthe expected length of the data of the speech data segment in the nextspeech request packet that is received by the server; and

a request determination module, adapted to make a determination forsending the next speech request packet according to the speech responsepacket.

According to a fourth aspect, a speech service system is provided, whichincludes a server and a terminal. The server comprises the speechtransmission apparatus according to the third aspect and the terminalcomprises the speech transmission apparatus according to the fourthaspect.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and examples in this summary areintended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical approaches of thepresent disclosure, hereinafter, the drawings used in the descriptionsof the embodiments will be simply described. The following describeddrawings are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and thosewith ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings based on thesedrawings without any creative effort.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a typical speech transmission between aterminal and a server under a streaming transmission mode;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an implementation environment for aspeech transmission method according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a speech transmission method according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a speech transmission under normal conditions;

FIG. 5A is a flow chart of a speech transmission method according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of sub-processes of block 502 in the speechtransmission method according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5C is a flow chart showing the speech transmission when a speechrequest packet duplication occurs;

FIG. 5D is a flow chart showing the speech transmission when a speechrequest packet loss occurs;

FIG. 5E is a flow chart showing the speech transmission when a speechrequest packet disorder occurs;

FIG. 5F is a flow chart showing the speech transmission when both aspeech request packet loss and a speech response packet loss occur;

FIG. 6A is a flow chart of a speech transmission method according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 6B is a flow chart of sub-processes of block 603 in a speechtransmission method according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6C is a flow chart of a relative speech transmission according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of a speech transmissionapparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of a speech transmissionapparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of a speech servicesystem according to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of a server accordingto various embodiments; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of a terminal accordingto various embodiments.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a speech transmission between a terminal anda server under a typical streaming transmission mode. In the process ofrecognizing a speech stream, the speech stream is divided into threespeech data segments. The terminal sends one speech request packet,including one speech data segment to the server, each time, namely theterminal sends a total of three speech request packets to the serverthree times, and the third speech request packet contains a request endidentifier indicting an end of the request. Correspondingly, the serverfeeds back one speech response packet to the terminal each time whenreceiving the speech request packet, namely the server feeds back atotal of three speech response packets to the terminal three times, andthe third speech response packet contains recognition results for theentire speech stream.

In the implementation of the present disclosure, the inventors havefound the following issues in the above technique. With the popularityof mobile terminals, since the mobile terminals use a mobile network ora wireless network and the network environment of the mobile network orthe wireless network can be relatively poor, packet loss, duplicationand disorder occur when a speech transmission is performed between themobile terminal and the server under the streaming transmission mode,which will result in t inaccurate processing results of the speechstream or the inability to process the speech stream.

In order to make the goal, the technical methods, and the benefits ofthe present disclosure more apparent, hereinafter, embodiments of thepresent disclosure will be described in further detail in conjunctionwith the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an implementation environment for aspeech transmission method according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The implementation environment comprises a terminal220 and a server 240. The terminal 220 may be a mobile phone, a tabletcomputer, an e-book reader, a MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group AudioLayer III, motion picture compression standard audio expert level 3)player, a MP4 (Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer IV, dynamicimage compression expert standard audio level 3) player, a portablelaptop, a desktop computer, etc. The terminal 220 and the server 240 maybe connected through a wireless network or wired network. The server 240may be a server, a server cluster consisting of several servers, or acloud computing service center.

The speech server 240 may also include a speech access device (not shownin FIG. 2), and the terminal 220 and the server 240 build a connectionvia the speech access device, thereby implementing a communicationbetween the terminal and a server.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a speech transmission methodaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and thespeech transmission method may be used in the implementation environmentshown in FIG. 2. The speech transmission method may comprise thefollowing.

Block 302: The terminal sequentially sends the server at least onespeech request packet, each of which includes a piece of speech datasegment of the speech stream, offset position of the speech data segmentin the speech stream, and the data length of the speech data segment.Correspondingly, the server sequentially receives, from the terminal,the at least one speech request packet, wherein each speech requestpacket includes a piece of speech data segment of the speech stream,offset position of the speech data segment in the speech stream, and thedata length of the speech data segment.

Block 304: For each speech request packet, the server generates a speechresponse packet corresponding to the speech request packet based on thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream, wherein the speech response packetcarries an expected offset position and an expected data length. Theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server. The expected data length is the expected lengthof the data of the speech data segment in the next speech request packetthat is received by the server.

Block 306: The server feeds back to the terminal a speech responsepacket so that the terminal may make a determination for sending thenext speech request packet according to this speech response packet.Correspondingly, the terminal receives the speech response packet thatcorresponds to the speech request packet and is fed back by the server,wherein the speech response packet is generated by the server based onthe speech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream, and the speech response packetcarries the expected offset position and the expected data length. Theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server. The expected data length is the expected lengthof the data of the speech data segment in the next speech request packetthat is received by the server.

Block 308: The terminal makes a determination for sending a next speechrequest packet according to the speech response packet.

The above blocks 302 and 308 may be implemented separately as a speechtransmission method on the terminal side, and the blocks 304 and 306 maybe implemented separately as a speech transmission method on the serverside

According to the speech transmission method according to variousembodiments, for each speech request packet received from the terminal,the server generates a speech response packet corresponding to thespeech request packet based on the speech request packet and otherreceived speech request packets corresponding to the speech stream,wherein the speech response packet carries the expected offset positionand the expected data length and the server feeds back the terminal aspeech response packet so that the terminal may make a determinationabout the next speech request packet to be sent according to this speechresponse packet. According to the above, the processing results of thespeech stream may be inaccurate or the speech stream cannot be processedduring the speech transmission due to packet loss, duplication, anddisorder. These issues are addressed here, and can be solved, and theaccuracy and process ability or the speech stream can be improved.

According to various embodiments, when a speech transmission isperformed between a terminal and a server, the parameters involved inthe speech request packet sent by the terminal and the parametersinvolved in the speech response packet fed back by the server aredescribed below.

The parameters involved in the speech request packet are shown in thefollowing Table 1:

TABLE 1 Offset Len Is_end Speech stream data

Wherein, Speech stream data refers to speech data segment, Offset refersto the offset position to represent the offset position of the speechdata segment in the entire speech stream, Len refers to data length torepresent the length of the data of the speech data segment, and Is_endrefers to the request end identifier to indicate whether the speech datasegment carried in the current speech request packet is the last segmentof the speech stream. For example, Is_end=1 represents True, i.e. thespeech data segment carried in the current speech request packet is thelast segment of the speech stream, while Is_end=0 represents False.

The parameters involved in the speech response packet are shown in thefollowing Table 2:

TABLE 2 Act_offset Ack_len Ret Recognition results

Wherein, Ret refers to a processing result identifier, indicatingwhether the speech request packet processing is successful or not, forexample, when the speech request packet processing is successful, 0 maybe returned, otherwise an error code may be returned, Act_offset refersto an expected offset position to represent an expected offset position,in the entire speech stream, of a speech data segment of a next speechrequest packet that is received by the server, Ack_len refers to anexpected length of the data to represent an expected length of the dataof a speech data segment in the entire speech stream of a next speechrequest packet that is received by the server, and Recognition resultsrefers to the processing results of the speech stream, for example,results=XXX.

Before the detailed introduction and description are given for thepacket loss, duplication, and disorder which occur when a speechtransmission is performed according to the speech transmission methodprovided in various embodiments of the present disclosure, thisapplication first gives an introduction of the process flow of thespeech transmission under normal conditions, i.e. under the conditionsthat the packet loss, duplication, and disorder do not occur. FIG. 4shows a flow chart of the speech transmission under normal conditions.Assume that the terminal divides the entire speech stream into threespeech data segments, namely, the terminal sends the server three speechrequest packets in Step1, Step3, and Step5. respectively andsequentially, and correspondingly, the server feeds back three speechresponse packets, respectively, corresponding to the three speechrequest packets in Step2, Step4 and the Step6, respectively.

The first speech request packet sent by the terminal in Step1 carriesthe first speech data fragment Speech stream data1 (not shown in FIG.4), an offset position Offset=0, data length Len=100, and the requestend identifier Is_end=0. Since the speech data segment carried in thefirst speech request packet is located at the beginning of the entirespeech stream, the Offset=0; Len=100 represents that the data length ofthe speech data segment carried in the first speech request packet is100 and Is_end=0 denotes that the speech data segment carried in thefirst speech request packet is not the last segment. As shown in FIG. 4on the right side, the first speech data segment in the first speechrequest packet received by the server includes the speech data segmenthaving offset position from 0 to 99.

The second speech request packet sent by the terminal in Step3 carries asecond speech data segment Speech stream data2 (not shown), an offsetposition Offset=100, data length Len=100, and the request end identifierIs_end=0. Since the speech data segment carried in the second speechrequest packet follows the speech data segment carried in the firstspeech request packet in the speech sequence, and the speech datasegment carried in the first speech request packet has the offsetposition from 0 to 99, in the second speech request packet Offset=100;Len=100 denotes that the data length of the speech data segment carriedin the second speech request packet is still 100; and Is_end=0 denotesthat the speech data segment carried in the second speech request packetis not the last segment. As shown in FIG. 4 on the right side, thesecond speech data segment carried in the second speech request packetreceived by the server includes the speech data segment having offsetposition from 100 to 199, and when combined with the first speech datasegment, for a total of the speech data segments with the offsetposition from 0 to 199.

Similarly, in the third speech request packet sent by the terminal inStep5, Offset=200 and Len=100 denotes that the data length of the speechdata segment carried in the third speech request packet is still 100.Different from the previous two speech request packets, the request endidentifier Is_end=1, indicating that the speech data segment carried inthe third speech request packet is the last segment. As shown in FIG. 4on the right side, the third speech data segment in the third speechrequest packet received by the server includes the speech data segmenthaving offset position from 200 to 299, and when combined with the firstand second speech data segments, for a total of the speech data segmentswith the offset position from 0 to 299.

The first speech response packet fed back by the server in Step2 is inresponse to the first speech request packet. The first speech responsepacket contains the processing result identifier Ret=0, the expectedoffset position Act_offset=100, and the expected data length Ack_len=0.Since the speech data segment of the first speech request packet islocated at the beginning of the entire speech stream, and Offset=0,Len=100, that is, the first speech data segment includes the dataarranged with the offset position from 0 to 99, the first speechresponse packet has an expected offset position Act_offset=100, whichindicates that the server expects that offset position of the speechdata segment in the next speech request packet in the speech stream is100. Further, under normal conditions, the expected data length Ack_lenis preset to be 0.

The second speech response packet fed back by the server in Step4 is inresponse to the second speech request packet. The second speech responsepacket contains the processing result identifier Ret=0, the expectedoffset position Act_offset=200, and the expected data length Ack_len=0.Since in the second speech request packet, Offset=100 and Len=100,namely, the second speech data segment includes the data arranged withthe offset position from 100 to 199, the second speech response packethas an expected offset position Act_offset=200, which indicates that theserver expects that offset position of the speech data segment in thenext speech request packet in the speech stream is 200.

The third speech response packet fed back by the server in Step6 is inresponse to the third speech request packet. The third speech responsepacket contains the processing result identifier Ret=0, the expectedoffset position Act_offset=300, the expected data length Ack_len=0, andthe processing result of the speech stream Results=XXX. Since in thethird speech request packet, Offset=200 and Len=100, the third speechdata segment includes the speech data arranged with the offset positionfrom 200 to 299. So, the third speech response packet has an expectedoffset position Act_offset=300, which indicates that the server expectsthat offset position of the speech data segment in the next speechrequest packet in the speech stream is 300. Furthermore, since the thirdspeech request packet carries the request end identifier Is_end=1, itindicates that the speech data segment carried in the third speechrequest packet is the last segment, and the third speech request packetneeds to carry the processing result of the speech stream Results=XXX.

Hereinafter, from the server side and the terminal side, respectively,the speech transmission method provided in the various embodiments willbe described in detail.

FIG. 5A illustrates a flow chart of a speech transmission methodaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein thespeech transmission method may be applied to the server-side environmentin the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The speech transmission method maycomprise the following processes.

Block 501: Receive at least one speech request packet sequentially sentby a terminal. For each speech stream, the terminal will divide thespeech stream into several speech data segments and sequentially carrythese speech data segments in different speech request packets to besent. Correspondingly, the server receives the at least one speechrequest packet sequentially sent by the terminal. As shown in FIG. 4,each speech request packet carries one speech data segment of the speechstream, the offset position of the speech data segment in the speechstream, and the data length of the speech data segment.

Further, each speech request packet can also carries the request endidentifier. For example, request end identifier Is_end=1 represents thatthe speech data segment carried in the speech request packet is the lastsegment of the speech stream and Is_end=0 represents that the speechdata segment carried in the speech request packet is not the lastsegment of the speech stream. The speech request packet may not carrythe request end identifier, for example, only the speech request packetwhich carries the last speech data segment of the speech stream containsa predetermined identification for labeling.

Since the issue of packet disorder, loss, and duplication may occurduring the transmission of each speech request packet due to the networkconditions, after each speech request packet is received and processed,the server generates a corresponding speech response packet sent to theterminal as guidance for the sending of the next speech request packet.The details are described in the following Block 502 and its varioussub-processes.

Block 502: For each speech request packet, generate a speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet according to thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream. For each speech request packet, theserver generates a speech response packet corresponding to the speechrequest packet according to the speech request packet and other receivedspeech request packets corresponding to the speech stream. As shown inFIG. 4, the speech response packet carries the expected offset positionand the expected data length, wherein the expected offset position isthe expected offset position, in the speech stream, of a speech datasegment in a next speech request packet that is received by the serverand the expected data length is the expected length of the data of thespeech data segment in the next speech request packet that is receivedby the server.

Further, each speech request packet may also carry a processing resultidentifier, which indicates whether the speech request packet isprocessed successfully. For example, if the processing result identifierRet=0, it indicates that the speech request packet is processedsuccessfully. If Ret shows error codes, it indicates that the processingof the speech request packet has failed due to discrepancies such as theinternet failures or logic errors.

As shown in FIG. 5B, block 502 may include the following sub-processes.

Block 502 a: Detect whether the speech data segment carried in thespeech request packet is already received in other speech requestpackets. In order to handle duplicate speech request packets, when eachspeech request packet is received, the server detects whether the speechdata segment carried in the speech request packet is already received inother speech request packets. The server may detect whether the speechdata segment carried in the speech request packet is already received inother speech request packets according to the offset position and thedata length of the speech data segment. For example, during theprocessing of a speech stream, when the offset positions and the datalengths carried in two received speech request packets are the same, itmay determine that the speech data segments carried in the two speechrequest packets are the same.

Due to the different data length of different speech data segments, thespeech data segments carried in two speech request packets may bepartially overlapped, or the speech data segment of one speech requestpacket contains the speech data segment of the other one speech requestpacket. However, for any one of the above data segment duplicationconditions, the server can find the duplication according to the offsetposition and the data length of the speech data segments.

Block 502 b: When the detecting result shows that the speech datasegment has been received in other speech request packets,de-duplication processing will be performed for the speech data segmentcarried in the speech request packet. When the detecting result showsthat the speech data segment has been received in other speech requestpacket, de-duplication processing will be performed by the server forthe speech data segment carried in the speech request packet. The serverselects the duplicate speech data segments, and only one copy of theduplicate speech data segments is maintained. De-duplication processingis performed once, not repeatedly, for the speech data segments. Inconsideration of possible packet loss during the transmission of thespeech response packet, the terminal will sends a speech request packetagain when it did not receive a speech response packet corresponding tothe speech request packet. Therefore, the server still sends a speechresponse packet corresponding to the speech request packet carrying aduplicate speech data segment.

In FIG. 5C, the speech response packet fed back by the server in Step6is lost during the transmission. The terminal has not received a speechresponse packet for a period of time, and the terminal then resends thespeech request packet, identical to what has been sent in Step5, to theserver in Step7. After receiving the speech request packet resent byterminal, the server resends a speech response packet, which isidentical to what has been sent in Step6 to the terminal in Step8.

Block 502 c: For each speech request packet, sort the speech datasegments carried in the speech request packet and other respectivespeech request packets according to the offset positions to obtain aspeech sequence. The offset position carried in each speech requestpacket represents the offset position, in the entire speech stream, ofthe speech data segment in the speech request packet. The server sortsthe speech data segments carried in the speech request packet and otherrespective speech request packets according to the offset positions toobtain a speech sequence.

Referring to FIG. 4, after receiving the second speech request packet inStep3, the server determines the position orders of the speech datasegments of the two speech request packets in the speech streamaccording to Offset=100 and Offset=0 in the first speech request packetsent in Step1 to obtain a speech sequence with the offset position from0 to 199.

In FIG. 5D, the speech request packet sent by the terminal in Step3 islost during the transmission, and the terminal according to the sequencethen still sends a next speech request packet in Step4. The serverdetermines the position orders of the speech data segments of the twospeech request packets in the speech stream according to Offset=200 inthe speech request packet sent in Step4 and Offset=0 in the speechrequest packet sent in Step1, to obtain a speech sequence of whichspeech data segments have the offset positions from 0 to 199 and 200 to299.

Block 502 d: Determine whether the speech sequence lacks a speech datasegment. When the speech sequence lacks a speech data segment, proceedto block 502 e. When the speech sequence does not lack a speech datasegment, proceed to block 502 f.

The server determines whether the speech sequence lacks a speech datasegment. The statement that the speech sequence lacks a speech datasegment means that the speech sequence obtained by the server by thesorting action is not a complete sequence. For example, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5D, after receiving the speech request packet inStep4, the server performs a sorting action to obtain a speech sequenceof which the speech data segments have the offset positions from 0 to 99and 200 to 299. That is, the obtained speech sequence lacks the speechdata segment of which the offset position is from 100 to 199.

In another example, in FIG. 5E, during the transmission, a disorderoccurs in the two speech request packets sent by the terminal in Step3and Step5. The server determines the position orders of the speech datasegments of the two speech request packets in the speech streamaccording to Offset=200 in the speech request packet sent in Step3 andOffset=0 in the speech request packet sent in Step1, to obtain a speechsequence of which speech data segments have the offset positions from 0to 99 and 200 to 299. The obtained speech sequence also lacks the speechdata segment of which the offset position is from 100 to 199.

Block 502 e: Generate an expected offset position according to theoffset position, in the speech stream, of the missing speech datasegment, and generate an expected data length according to the datalength of the missing speech data segment.

When it is determined that the speech sequence lacks a speech datasegment, the server generates an expected offset position according tothe offset position, in the speech stream, of the missing speech datasegment, and generates an expected data length according to the datalength of the missing speech data segment.

In the first possible implementation, when the speech sequence lacks onespeech data segment, namely, one speech data segment is missing, forexample, in the speech sequence obtained by the server by sorting thespeech data segment carried in the speech request packets received inStep4, the missing speech data segment is the speech data segment ofwhich the offset position is from 100 to 199. The server may thenconfigure the expected offset position as 100 in order to be the same asthe beginning offset position of the missing speech data segment, andconfigure the expected data length as 100 in order to be the same as thedata length of the missing speech data segment. Thereafter, as shown inStep5 of FIG. 5D, the server may feed back a speech response packetwhich carries Act_offset=100 and Ack_len=100.

In the second possible implementation, when the speech sequence lackstwo or more speech data segments, namely, two or more speech datasegments are missing, the server generates an expected offset positionaccording to the offset position, in the speech stream, of the firstmissing speech data segment in the speech sequence, and generates anexpected data length according to the data length of the first missingspeech data segment in the speech sequence.

Referring to FIG. 5F, due to poor network environment, the speechrequest packets sequentially sent by the terminal in Step3 and Step6 arelost, and the speech response packet sent by the server in Step5 is alsolost. After receiving the speech request packet sent by the terminal inStep6, the server performs a sorting action to obtain a speech sequencewhose speech data segments have the offset positions from 0 to 99, 200to 299 and 400 to 499. In such a case, two speech data segments aremissing, i.e. the speech data segment whose offset position is from 100to 199 and the speech data segment whose offset position is from 300 to399. The server generates an expected offset position according to theoffset position, in the speech stream, of the first missing speech datasegment in the speech sequence, i.e. the expected offset position is100. The server generates an expected data length according to the datalength of the first missing speech data segment in the speech sequence,i.e. the expected data length is 100. Thereafter, as shown in Step8 ofFIG. 5F, the server may feed back a speech response packet which carriesAct_offset=100 and Ack_len=100.

Since during a speech transmission, especially when the speechtransmission is between the mobile terminal or the like and a server,speech data contained in a speech stream is shorter. Thus, the number ofspeech data segments obtained by dividing the speech stream will not belarge. Usually, it is sufficient to divide a speech stream into 10speech request packets for transmission. Therefore, various embodimentsuse a relatively simple processing mechanism, that is, when two or morespeech data segments are missing, the server computes only the offsetposition of the first missing speech data segment in the speech streamand its length data, and the following missing speech data segments arenot in consideration. This can speed up the response speed of theserver, as the server will also focus on making the calculation andprocessing of the speech data segments, thereby saving server overhead.

Block 502 f: Generate an expected offset position according to the endposition of the speech sequence and configure the expected data lengthas a preset value. When it is determined that the speech sequence doesnot lack a speech data segment, the server generates an expected offsetposition according to the end position of the speech sequence andconfigures the expected data length as a preset value.

Referring to FIG. 5D, after receiving the speech request packet sent bythe terminal in Step6, the server performs a sorting action on thespeech data segments to obtain a complete speech sequence of which thespeech data segments have the offset position from 0 to 299. The serverthen generates an expected offset position according to the end positionof the speech sequence and configures the expected data length as apreset value. When it is determined that the speech sequence does notlack a speech data segment, the server may generate the expected offsetposition according to the following two possible implementations.

In the first possible implementation, when it is determined that thespeech sequence does not lack a speech data segment, the server alwaysadds 1 to the end position of the speech sequence to generate theexpected offset position. The server adds 1 to the end position of thespeech sequence to generate the expected offset position, that is, theserver expect to receive the speech data segments in order. As shown inStep7 of FIG. 5D, the server may feed back a speech response packetwhich carries Act_offset=300 and Ack_len=0.

In the second possible implementation, when it is determined that thespeech sequence does not lack a speech data segment and all the receivedrequest end identifiers are False, the server adds 1 to the end positionof the speech sequence to generate the expected offset position.

As described in the above block 501, each speech request packet maycarry the request end identifier, and the request end identifier denoteswhether the speech data segment carried in the speech request packet isthe last segment of the speech stream. When all the received request endidentifiers are False, i.e. all Is_end=0, that means that the lastspeech data segment of the speech stream has not been received, and theserver then adds 1 to the end position of the speech sequence togenerate the expected offset position. When the received request endidentifier is True, i.e. Is_end=1, the server may use a presetidentifier instead of the expected offset position, or may not generatethe expected offset position, because at this moment, the server hasreceived the complete speech stream and just needs to deal with thespeech stream and feed back the processing result to the terminal.

Block 502 g: When the request end identifier carried in the speechrequest packet is true and all speech data segments of the speech streamhave been received, add a processing result of the speech stream intothe speech response packet. When the request end identifier carried inthe speech request packet are true and all speech data segments of thespeech stream have been received, it means that the server has receivedthe complete speech stream. In such a case, the server adds a processingresult of the speech stream into the speech response packet. As shown inStep7 of FIG. 5D, the speech response packet fed back by the servercontains the processing result of the speech stream Results=XXX.

Block 502 h: Cache the processing result of the speech stream for apredetermined length of time. After generating the processing result ofthe speech stream, the server may cache the processing result of thespeech stream for a predetermined length of time. The predeterminedlength of time can be pre-set according to actual requirements, such as20 seconds. As such, when the speech response packet that is fed backfrom the server to the terminal and carries the processing result of thespeech stream is lost, and the server has received a speech requestpacket that is resent by the terminal and carries the last segment, theserver may retrieve the processing result of the speech stream directlyfrom the cache and feed back the processing result to the terminalagain. Otherwise, when the processing result of the speech stream is notcached, the server needs to retrieve the speech stream, and handle thespeech stream again, which affects the efficiency of the server'sresponse and increases the pressure on the server computing

In summary, in the case of abnormal network conditions, speech requestpacket loss, duplication, and disorder may occur. Speech responsepackets generated by the server may have three main functions: First,when the speech sequence lacks a speech data segment due to the packetloss and packet disorder; the speech response packet should be used toindicate the terminal to resend the missing speech data segment. Second,when no speech data segment is missing due to the packet loss or packetdisorder, the speech response packet should be used to indicate theterminal to send the next speech data segment as normal. Third, when thespeech request packet carries the last segment of the speech stream,feed back the processing result of the speech stream in the speechresponse packet.

Block 503: Feed back the speech response packet to the terminal, so thatthe terminal can make a determination for sending the next speechrequest packet according to the speech response packet. The server feedsback the speech response packet to the terminal, so that the terminalcan make a determination for sending the next speech request packetaccording to the speech response packet. Regardless of whether it is aspeech response packet generated for the duplicated speech requestpacket, a speech response packet generated when a speech request packetloss or disorder occurs, or a speech response packet generated when aspeech request packet loss or disorder does not occur, the server alwaysfeeds back the speech response packet to the terminal.

After receiving the speech response packet sent by the server, theterminal makes a determination for sending the next speech requestpacket according to the speech response packet. The terminal maydetermine whether the next speech request packet should be sent,determine the speech data segment carried by the next speech requestpacket, determine the offset position and the data length, etc. Terminalside processing mechanism will be described and illustrated in detailaccording to various embodiments shown in FIG. 6A below.

It should be noted that, in order to improve the concurrency of theserver to make the number of the speech request packets processed by theserver at the same time as large as possible, the server may not processthe speech request packet immediately once it is received, but may cachethe speech request packet for a while so that the response time is notaffected, and may simultaneously process multiple speech request packetsafter a certain number of speech request packets have been received.

As mentioned above, according to the speech transmission method providedaccording to various embodiments, for each speech request packetreceived from the terminal, the server generates a speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet based on the speechrequest packet and other received speech request packets correspondingto the speech stream, wherein the speech response packet carries theexpected offset position and the expected data length, and the serverfeeds back the terminal a speech response packet so that the terminalmay make a determination about the next speech request packet to be sentaccording to this speech response packet. According to the abovemethods, the issue of inaccurate processing results of the speech streamor the inability to process the speech stream during the speechtransmission due to packet loss, duplication and disorder can be solvedand avoided in the future.

Further, in the case where the packet loss and disorder occur in aplurality of speech request packets, after obtaining the speechsequence, regardless of the number of the missing speech data segmentsof the speech sequence, the server generates only the expected offsetposition of the first missing speech data segment in the speech streamand its expected length data. This can speed up the response speed ofthe server and the server will also focus on making the calculation andprocessing of the speech data segments, thereby saving server overhead.

FIG. 6A illustrates a flow chart of a speech transmission methodaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein thespeech transmission method may be applied to the terminal-sideenvironment in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The speech transmissionmethod may comprise the following processes.

Block 601: Sequentially send at least one speech request packet to theserver. For one speech stream, the terminal may divide the speech streaminto several speech data segments, and sequentially carries these speechdata segments in different speech request packets for transmission. Theterminal sequentially send the server at least one speech requestpacket. As shown in FIG. 4, each speech request packet carries onespeech data segment of the speech stream, the expected offset positionof the speech data segment in the speech stream, and the data length ofthe speech data segment.

Further, each speech request packet may carry the request endidentifier. For example, when Is_end=1, this indicates that the speechdata segment carried in the current speech request packet is the lastsegment of the speech stream, and when Is_end=0, this indicates that thespeech data segment carried in the current speech request packet is notthe last segment of the speech stream. The speech request packet may notcarry the request end identifier, for example, only the speech requestpacket which carries the last speech data segment of the speech streamcontains a predetermined identification for labeling.

Block 602: Receive the speech response packet that is sent by the serverand corresponds to the speech request packet. The terminal receives thespeech response packet that is sent by the server and corresponds to thespeech request packet. The speech response packet is generated by theserver according to the speech request packet and other received speechrequest packets corresponding to the speech stream. As shown in FIG. 4,the speech response packet carries the expected offset position and theexpected data length, wherein the expected offset position is theexpected offset position, in the speech stream, of a speech data segmentin a next speech request packet that is received by the server; and theexpected data length is the expected length of the data of the speechdata segment in the next speech request packet that is received by theserver.

In addition, each speech request packet may also carry a process resultidentifier, which indicates whether the speech request packet isprocessed successfully. For example, when the process result identifierRet=0, this indicates that the speech request packet is processedsuccessfully. When Ret shows error codes, this indicates that theprocessing of the speech request packet has failed due to discrepanciessuch as the internet failures or logic errors.

The detailed contents of how the server generates the speech responsepacket according to the speech request packets have been described andillustrated in various embodiments shown in FIG. 5A, and will not bedescribed further herein.

Block 603: Make a determination for sending the next speech requestpacket according to the speech response packet. The process of making adetermination for sending the next speech request packet may include thefollowing. The terminal may determine whether the next speech requestpacket should be sent, determine the speech data segments carried by thenext speech request packet, determine the expected offset position andthe expected data length, etc.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the above process may include the followingsub-processes.

Block 603 a: Detect whether the expected data length carried in thespeech response packet is equal to a predetermined value. When theexpected data length carried in the speech response packet is not equalto the predetermined value, proceed to Block 603 b. When the expecteddata length carried in the speech response packet is equal to apredetermined value, proceed to Block 603 c.

The terminal determines whether the expected data length carried in thespeech response packet is equal to a predetermined value. By decidingwhether the expected data length carried in the speech response packetis equal to a predetermined value, the terminal may determine whether apacket loss or disorder occurs in the speech request packet sent byitself during the transmission. The expected data length represents theexpected length of the data of the speech data segment in the nextspeech request packet that is received by the server. When the expecteddata length is equal to a predetermined value, i.e. when Ack_len=0, thisindicates that the speech sequence obtained by the server does not lacka speech data segment, that is, the server does not find a packet lossor packet disorder. When the expected data length is not equal to apredetermined value, i.e. when Ack_len≠0, this indicates that the speechsequence obtained by the server lacks a speech data segment, that is, apacket loss or packet disorder occurs.

Block 603 b: Carry all or part of the speech data segment that has theexpected offset position and expected data length in the next speechrequest packet for transmitting. When the expected data length does notequal a predetermined value, the server carries all or part of thespeech data segment that has the expected offset position and expecteddata length in the next speech request packet for transmitting. Theexpected offset position and expected data length represent the missingspeech data segment needed by the server, and the terminal may send themissing speech data segment by carrying it in one speech request packetor in multiple speech request packets.

Referring to FIG. 5D, since the speech request packet sent by theterminal in Step3 is lost, the speech response packet fed back by theserver in Step5 carries Ack_offset=100 and Ack_len=100, which indicatesthat the server needs the speech data segment whose offset position isfrom 100 to 199. After receiving the speech response packet fed back bythe server in Step5, in Step6, the terminal carries the speech datasegment whose offset position is from 100 to 199 in one speech requestpacket for transmitting.

The terminal may also send the speech data segment in multiple speechrequest packets, such as one speech request packet carries one part ofthe speech data segment with Offset=100 and Len=50, and another speechrequest packet carries the other part of the speech data segment withOffset=150 and Len=50.

Block 603 c: Determine whether the speech data segment that has theexpected offset position and expected data length carried in the speechresponse packet has been sent. When it determines that the expected datalength is equal to the predetermined value, the terminal determines thatthe speech data segment that has the expected offset position andexpected data length carried in the speech response packet has beensent. When it determines that the speech data segment that has theexpected offset position and expected data length carried in the speechresponse packet has been sent, proceed to Block 603 d. When itdetermines that the speech data segment that has the expected offsetposition and expected data length carried in the speech response packethas not been sent, proceed to Block 603 e.

Block 603 d: When there is another speech data segment of the speechstream that has not been sent, carry the speech data segment in the nextspeech request packet for transmitting.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the terminal has already sent the speech requestpacket that carries the speech data segment with Offset=100 to theserver in Step2 when the terminal receives the speech response packetthat fed back by the server in Step3 and corresponds to the speechrequest packet sent in Step1. At this moment, the terminal detects thatthe speech data segment with Offset=200 and Len=100 of the speech streamhas not been sent, and the terminal then carries the speech data segmentwith Offset=200 and Len=100 in the speech request packet to be sent inStep4.

After receiving the speech response packet that was fed back by theserver in Step5 and corresponds to the speech request packet sent inStep 2, the terminal reads the expected offset position Ack_offset=200in the speech response packet and finds that the speech request packetcarries the speech data segment with offset position Ack_offset=200 hasbeen sent, and therefore all of the speech stream has been sent. Theterminal does not then send a speech request packet any more, and waitsfor a processing result of the speech stream to be sent by the server.

Block 603 e: When a speech data segment exists with the expected offsetposition in the speech stream, carry the speech data segment with theexpected offset position in the next speech request packet fortransmitting.

Referring to FIG. 4, after receiving the speech response packet that fedback by the server in Step2 and corresponds to the speech request packetsent in Step1, the terminal reads the expected offset positionAck_offset=100 in the speech response packet and finds that the speechrequest packet carries the speech data segment with offset positionAck_offset=100 has not been sent, and the speech data segment with theexpected offset position Ack_offset=100 exists in the speech stream, theterminal then carries the speech data segment with Ack_offset=100 in thespeech request packet to be sent in Step3.

Further, after block 601, the following may be performed.

Block 604: For each speech request packet, within a predetermined timeinterval after the speech request packet is sent, detect whether aspeech response packet corresponding to the speech request packet isreceived. In consideration of the possible condition that a packet lossand disorder may occur in the speech response packet fed back by theserver during the transmission, within a predetermined time intervalafter the speech request packet is sent, the terminal detects whether aspeech response packet corresponding to the received speech requestpacket is received.

In one possible implementation, the terminal detects whether a speechresponse packet corresponding to the received speech request packet isreceived according to the expected offset position carried in the speechresponse packet. In the condition that packet loss and disorder do notoccur, for each speech request packet, the expected offset positioncarried in the speech response packet fed back by the server equals tothe value obtained by adding 1 to the end position of the speech datasegment carried in the speech request packet. Therefore, the terminal isable to detect whether a speech response packet corresponding to thereceived speech request packet is received according to the expectedoffset position carried in the received speech response packet.

In this implementation there will be a deviation in the case that speechrequest packet loss or disorder occurs, because when a packet loss ordisorder occurs, the expected offset position sent back by the serverwill be equal to the offset position of the missing speech data segment,and at this point the expected offset position sent back by the serverdoes not accurately reflect the corresponding relationship between thespeech response packet and the speech request packet, and some speechrequest packets may be unnecessarily resent by the terminal. However,because the server side needs only to do de-duplication processing, itwill not bring great computing pressure on the server. The presentimplementation may enable easier speech transmission.

In another possible implementation, when sending the speech requestpackets, the terminal can add different identifiers to different speechrequest packets, e.g. adding identifier A to the first speech requestpacket and adding identifier B to the second speech request packet.After the server processes the first speech request packet, the firstspeech response packet fed back by the server also carries theidentifier A. After the server processes the second speech requestpacket, the second speech response packet fed back by the server alsocarries the identifier B. As such, the terminal can determine thecorresponding relationship between the speech response packet and thespeech request packet according to the identifier in the received speechresponse packet, in order to detect whether the speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet has been received within apredetermined time interval. Although the present implementation candetermine the corresponding relationship between the speech requestpacket and the speech response packet, but will increase the computingamount of the server.

In practice, any one of the above two implementations can be selectedbased on the computing capability of the server.

Block 605: When it is detected that the speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet has not been received yet,resend the speech request packet. When the speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet has not been received yetwithin a predetermined time interval, it means that the speech responsepacket may be lost during the transmission. The terminal then resendsthe speech request packet, notifies the server that the speech responsepacket is lost, and requests the server to reprocess the speech requestpacket.

Referring to FIG. 5C, because the speech response packet fed back by theserver in Step6 is lost and the terminal does not receive the responsewithin a predetermined time interval, the terminal resends in Step7 thespeech request packet that has been sent in Step5. Correspondingly,after receiving the resent speech request packet, the server retrievesthe processing results of the speech stream Results=XXX from the cache,and resends a speech response packet that carries Results=XXX.

Further, the terminal may carry a request end identifier in each speechrequest packet, and the request end identifier indicates whether thespeech data segment carried in the speech request packet is the lastsegment of the speech stream. For example, when Is_end=1, this indicatesthat the speech data segment carried in the current speech requestpacket is the last segment of the speech stream, and when Is_end=0, thisindicates that the speech data segment carried in the current speechrequest packet is not the last segment of the speech stream. The speechrequest packet may not carry the request end identifier, for example,only the speech request packet which carries the last speech datasegment of the speech stream contains a predetermined identification forlabeling.

As mentioned above, according to the speech transmission methodaccording to various embodiments, the terminal sends the server a speechrequest packet carrying the speech data segment, the offset position ofthe speech request packet in the speech stream, and the data length ofthe speech data segment, and after the terminal receives the speechresponse packet that is fed back by the server and carries the expectedoffset position and the expected data length, the terminal makes adetermination about the next speech request packet to be sent accordingto this speech response packet. According to the above methods, theissue of inaccurate processing results of the speech stream or theinability to process the speech stream during the speech transmissiondue to packet loss, duplication and disorder can be solved and avoidedin the future.

Further, various embodiments provide an improved speech transmissionmechanism, wherein within a predetermined time interval after theterminal sends a speech request packet, the terminal detects whether thespeech response packet corresponding to the speech request packet hasbeen received, and resends the speech request packet when it detectsthat the speech response packet corresponding to the speech requestpacket has not been received, thereby avoiding the influence due to theoccurrence of the speech response packet loss.

The following is the apparatus embodiment of the present disclosure,which can be used to perform the method embodiment of the presentdisclosure. For details that are not described in the apparatusembodiment of the present disclosure, please refer to the methodembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of the structure of a speechtransmission apparatus provided according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The speech transmission apparatus can be implementedas a part of or the entire server by using software, hardware, or acombination thereof. The speech transmission apparatus may comprise arequest receiving module 710, a response generating module 720, and aresponse feedback module 730.

The request receiving module 710 receives at least one speech requestpacket sequentially sent by a terminal. Each speech request packetcarries one speech data segment of the speech stream, the offsetposition of the speech data segment in the speech stream, and the datalength of the speech data segment.

The response generating module 720, for each speech request packet,generates a speech response packet corresponding to the speech requestpacket according to the speech request packet and other received speechrequest packets corresponding to the speech stream. The speech responsepacket carries the expected offset position and the expected datalength, wherein the expected offset position is the expected offsetposition, in the speech stream, of a speech data segment in a nextspeech request packet that is received by the server. The expected datalength is the expected length of the data of the speech data segment inthe next speech request packet that is received by the server.

The response feedback module 730 feeds back the speech response packetto the terminal, so that the terminal can make a determination forsending the next speech request packet according to the speech responsepacket.

As mentioned above, according to the speech transmission apparatusaccording to various embodiments, for each speech request packetreceived from the terminal, the server generates a speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet based on the speechrequest packet and other received speech request packets correspondingto the speech stream, wherein the speech response packet carries theexpected offset position and the expected data length. The server feedsback to the terminal a speech response packet so that the terminal maymake a determination about the next speech request packet to be sentaccording to this speech response packet. According to the, the issue ofinaccurate processing results of the speech stream or inability of thespeech stream to be processed during the speech transmission due topacket loss, duplication and disorder can be solved and avoided in thefuture.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of the structure of a speechtransmission apparatus provided according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The speech transmission apparatus can be implementedas a part of or the entire terminal by using software, hardware, or acombination thereof. The speech transmission apparatus may comprise of arequest sending module 810, a response receiving module 820, and arequest determination module 830.

The request sending module 810 sequentially sends the server at leastone speech request packet. Each speech request packet carries one speechdata segment of the speech stream, the expected offset position of thespeech data segment in the speech stream, and the data length of thespeech data segment.

The response receiving module 820 receives the speech response packetthat is sent by the server and corresponds to the speech request packet.The speech response packet is generated by the server according to thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream. The speech response packet carriesthe expected offset position and the expected data length, wherein theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server. The expected data length is the expected lengthof the data of the speech data segment in the next speech request packetthat is received by the server.

The request determination module 830 makes a determination for sendingthe next speech request packet according to the speech response packet.

As mentioned above, according to the speech transmission apparatusprovided according to various embodiments, the terminal sends the servera speech request packet carrying the speech data segment, the offsetposition of the speech request packet in the speech stream, and the datalength of the speech data segment, and after the speech response packetthat is fed back by the server receives and carries the expected offsetposition and the expected data length, the terminal makes adetermination about the next speech request packet to be sent accordingto this speech response packet. According to the above methods, theissue of inaccurate processing results of the speech stream or theinability of the speech stream to be processed during the speechtransmission due to packet loss, duplication, and disorder can be solvedand avoided in the future.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of the structure of a speech servicesystem provided according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The speech service system may include a server 700 and aterminal 800.

The server 700 may include a speech transmission apparatus, which can beimplemented by using software, hardware, or a combination thereof. Thespeech transmission apparatus may include a request receiving module710, a response generating module 720, a result caching module 722, anda response feedback module 730.

The request receiving module 710 receives at least one speech requestpacket sequentially sent by a terminal. Each speech request packetcarries one speech data segment of the speech stream, the offsetposition of the speech data segment in the speech stream, and the datalength of the speech data segment.

The response generating module 720, for each speech request packet,generates a speech response packet corresponding to the speech requestpacket according to the speech request packet and other received speechrequest packets corresponding to the speech stream. The speech responsepacket carries the expected offset position and the expected datalength, wherein the expected offset position is the expected offsetposition, in the speech stream, of a speech data segment in a nextspeech request packet that is received by the server. The expected datalength is the expected length of the data of the speech data segment inthe next speech request packet that is received by the server.

The response generating module 720 may include a speech detecting unit720 a and a de-duplicating unit 720 b. The speech detecting unit 720 adetects whether the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket is already received in other speech request packets. Thede-duplicating unit 720 b performs de-duplication processing for thespeech data segment carried in the speech request packet when the speechdetecting unit 720 a detects that the speech data segment has beenreceived in other speech request packets. The response generating module720 may also include a speech sorting unit 720 c, a lack judging unit720 d, a first execution unit 720 e, and a second execution unit 720 f.The speech sorting unit 720 c, for each speech request packet, sorts thespeech data segments carried in the speech request packet and otherrespective speech request packets according to the offset positions toobtain a speech sequence. The lack judging unit 720 d determines whetherthe speech sequence lacks a speech data segment. The first executionunit 720 e generates an expected offset position according to the offsetposition, in the speech stream, of the missing speech data segment, andgenerates an expected data length according to the data length of themissing speech data segment, when the lack judging unit 720 d determinesthat the speech sequence lacks a speech data segment. The firstexecution unit 720 e also generates an expected offset positionaccording to the offset position, in the speech stream, of the firstmissing speech data segment in the speech sequence, and generates anexpected data length according to the data length of the first missingspeech data segment in the speech sequence, when the speech sequencelacks two or more speech data segments. The second execution unit 720 fgenerates an expected offset position according to the end position ofthe speech sequence, and configures the expected data length as a presetvalue, when the lack judging unit 720 d determines that the speechsequence does not lack a speech data segment.

In one possible implementation, each speech request packet may carry therequest end identifier, and the request end identifier denotes whetherthe speech data segment carried in the speech request packet is the lastsegment of the speech stream.

The second execution unit 720 f also adds 1 to the end position of thespeech sequence to generate the expected offset position when all thereceived request end identifiers are False.

The response generating module 720 may also include a result adding unit720 g, which adds a processing result of the speech stream into thespeech response packet when the request end identifier carried in thespeech request packet is true and all speech data segments of the speechstream have been received. The result caching module 722 may be used tocache the processing result of the speech stream for a predeterminedlength of time. The response feedback module 730 may be used to feedback the speech response packet to the terminal, so that the terminalcan make a determination for sending the next speech request packetaccording to the speech response packet.

The terminal 800 may include a speech transmission apparatus which canbe implemented by using software, hardware, or a combination thereof.The speech transmission apparatus may comprise of a request sendingmodule 810, a response receiving module 820, a request determinationmodule 830, a response detecting module 840, a request resending module850, and an identifier adding module 860.

The request sending module 810 sequentially sends the server at leastone speech request packet. Each speech request packet carries one speechdata segment of the speech stream, the expected offset position of thespeech data segment in the speech stream, and the data length of thespeech data segment.

The response receiving module 820 receives the speech response packetthat is sent by the server and corresponds to the speech request packet.The speech response packet is generated by the server according to thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream. The speech response packet carriesthe expected offset position and the expected data length, wherein theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server. The expected data length is the expected lengthof the data of the speech data segment in the next speech request packetthat is received by the server.

The request determination module 830 makes a determination for sendingthe next speech request packet according to the speech response packet.The request determination module 830 may include a length detecting unit830 a and a data processing unit 830 b. The length detecting unit 830 amay be used to detect whether the expected data length carried in thespeech response packet is equal to a predetermined value. The dataprocessing unit 830 b may be used to carry all or part of the speechdata segment that has the expected offset position and expected datalength in the next speech request packet for transmitting, when thelength detecting unit 830 a detects that the expected data lengthcarried in the speech response packet does not equal a predeterminedvalue.

The request determination module 830 may also include a data determiningunit 830 c, a first determining unit 830 d, and a second determiningunit 830 e. The data determining unit 830 c may be used to determinewhether the speech data segment that has the expected offset positionand expected data length carried in the speech response packet has beensent when the length detecting unit. 830 a detects that the expecteddata length carried in the speech response packet equals to thepredetermined value. The first judging unit 830 d may be used to carrythe speech data segment in the next speech request packet fortransmitting, when the data determining unit 830 c judges that thespeech data segment that has the expected offset position and expecteddata length carried in the speech response packet has been sent, andthere is still a speech data segment of the speech stream that has notbeen sent. The second determining unit 830 e may be used to carry thespeech data segment with the expected offset position in the next speechrequest packet for transmitting, when the data judging unit 830 cdetermines that the speech data segment that has the expected offsetposition and expected data length carried in the speech response packethas not been sent yet and a speech data segment with the expected offsetposition exists in the speech stream.

The response detecting module 840 may be used to, for each speechrequest packet, detect whether a speech response packet corresponding tothe received speech request packet is received within a predeterminedtime interval after the speech request packet is sent. The requestresending module 850 may be used to resend the speech request packetwhen the response detecting module 840 detects that the speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet has not been receivedyet. The identifier adding module 860 may be used to carry a request endidentifier in each speech request packet, and the request end identifierindicates whether the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket is the last segment of the speech stream.

As mentioned above, according to the speech service system provided inthe various embodiments, for each speech request packet received fromthe terminal, the server generates a speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet based on the speech requestpacket and other received speech request packets corresponding to thespeech stream, wherein the speech response packet carries the expectedoffset position and the expected data length; and the server feeds backthe terminal a speech response packet so that the terminal may make adetermination about the next speech request packet to be sent accordingto this speech response packet. According to the above methods, theissue of inaccurate processing results of the speech stream or theinability of the speech stream to be processed during the speechtransmission due to packet loss, duplication, and disorder can be solvedand avoided in the future.

Further, in the case that the packet loss and disorder occur in aplurality of speech request packets, after obtaining the speechsequence, regardless of the number of the missing speech data segmentsof the speech sequence, the server generates only the expected offsetposition of the first missing speech data segment in the speech streamand its expected length data. This can speed up the response speed ofthe server, and the server will also focus on making the calculation andprocessing of the speech data segments, thereby saving server overhead.Various embodiments provide an improved speech transmission mechanism,wherein within a predetermined time interval after the terminal sends aspeech request packet, the terminal detects whether the speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet has been received, andresends the speech request packet when it detects that the speechresponse packet corresponding to the speech request packet has not beenreceived, thereby avoiding the influence due to the occurrence of thespeech response packet loss.

In the speech transmission apparatus and speech service system describedin the above embodiments, the functional modules illustrated are onlyexamples for providing the speech service. In practical applications,the functions of the speech transmission apparatus and speech servicesystem may be implemented by different functional modules to completeall or part of the functions described above. In addition, the speechtransmission apparatus and method and the speech service system providedin the above-described embodiments have the same conception, and thevarious implementation process are described in detail in the methodembodiments, thus, no further explanation is given.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of the structure of a server according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The server can be used toimplement the speech transmission method executed in the server sidedescribed in the various embodiments. The server 1000 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 1001, a system memory 1004 including a randomaccess memory (RAM) 1002 and a read only memory (ROM) 1003, and a systembus 1005 connecting the system memory 1004 and the central processingunit 1001. The server 1000 also includes a basic input/output system(I/O system) 1006 to transfer information between various devices withinthe computer, and a mass storage equipment 1007 used for storing anoperating system 1013, applications 1014 and other program modules 1015.

The basic input/output system 1006 includes a display device 1008 fordisplaying information and an input device 1009 for users to inputinformation, such as a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. The displaydevice 1008 and the input device 1009 are coupled to the centralprocessing unit 1001 by being respectively connected to an input/outputcontroller 1010 of the system bus 1005. The basic input/output system1006 may also include an input/output controller 1010 for receiving andprocessing the input information from many other devices such as akeyboard, mouse, or electronic stylus. Similarly, the input/outputcontroller 1010 may also output information to a display, a printer, orother type of output devices.

The mass storage device 1007 is coupled to the central processing unit1001 by being connected to a mass storage controller (not shown) of thesystem bus 1005. The mass storage device 1007 and its associatedcomputer-readable media provide non-volatile storage for the server1000. That is, the mass storage device 1007 may include a computerreadable medium (not shown), such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive or thelike.

The computer-readable media may include computer storage media andcommunication media. The computer storage media includes volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media realized by any method ortechnology which stores the information, such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Thecomputer storage media includes RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory orother solid state memory and its technology, CD-ROM, DVD or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, and magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices. It will be known to thoseskilled in the art that the computer storage medium is not limited tothe above-descried medium. The above system memory 1004 and the massstorage device 1007 may be collectively referred to as memory.

According to various embodiments, the server 1000 can also be connectedvia a network, such as the Internet, to a remote computer on the networkfor running. That is, the server 1000 can be coupled to the network 1012by being connected to the network interface unit 1011 of the system bus1005, or coupled to other types of networks or a remote computer system(not shown) via the network interface unit 1011.

The memory may further comprise one or more programs, the one or moreprograms are stored in a memory, and are configured to be executed byone or more central processing units 1001. The one or more programsinclude the instructions for performing the following.

The instructions perform receiving at least one speech request packetsequentially sent by a terminal. Each speech request packet carries onespeech data segment of the speech stream, the offset position of thespeech data segment in the speech stream, and the data length of thespeech data segment. For each speech request packet, generate a speechresponse packet corresponding to the speech request packet according tothe speech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream. The speech response packet carriesthe expected offset position and the expected data length, wherein theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server; and the expected data length is the expectedlength of the data of the speech data segment in the next speech requestpacket that is received by the server. Feed back the speech responsepacket to the terminal, so that the terminal can make a determinationfor sending the next speech request packet according to the speechresponse packet.

Considering that the above implementation is a first possibleimplementation, it is possible to provide a second possibleimplementation on the basis of the first implementation, and in thesecond possible implementation, the memory of the server may furthercomprise instructions to perform the following operations: for eachspeech request packet, sort the speech data segments carried in thespeech request packet and other respective speech request packetsaccording to the offset positions to obtain a speech sequence, determinewhether the speech sequence lacks a speech data segment, generate anexpected offset position according to the offset position, in the speechstream, of the missing speech data segment, and generate an expecteddata length according to the data length of the missing speech datasegment, when it is determined that the speech sequence lacks a speechdata segment; generate an expected offset position according to the endposition of the speech sequence, and configures the expected data lengthas a preset value, when it is determined that the speech sequence doesnot lack a speech data segment.

It is possible to provide a third possible implementation on the basisof the second implementation, and in the third possible implementation,the memory of the server may further comprise instructions to performthe following operations. Generate an expected offset position accordingto the offset position, in the speech stream, of the first missingspeech data segment in the speech sequence, and generate an expecteddata length according to the data length of the first missing speechdata segment in the speech sequence, when the speech sequence lacks twoor more speech data segments.

It is possible to provide a fourth possible implementation on the basisof the second implementation, and in the fourth possible implementation,the memory of the server may further comprise of instructions to performthe following operations. Add 1 to the end position of the speechsequence to generate the expected offset position when all the receivedrequest end identifiers are False.

It is possible to provide a fifth possible implementation on the basisof the first implementation, and in the fifth possible implementation,the memory of the server may further comprise of instructions to performthe following operations. Detect whether the speech data segment carriedin the speech request packet is already received in other speech requestpackets and, when it detects that the speech data segment carried in thespeech request packet is already received, a deduplication process willbe performed for the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket.

It is possible to provide a sixth possible implementation on the basisof any one of the first to fifth implementations, and in the sixthpossible implementation, the memory of the server may further compriseinstructions to perform the following operations.

The process, for each speech request packet generating a speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet according to thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream may comprise of the following. Addinga processing result of the speech stream into the speech response packetwhen the request end identifier carried in the speech request packet isTrue and all speech data segments of the speech stream have beenreceived.

It is possible to provide a seventh possible implementation on the basisof the sixth implementations, and in the seventh possibleimplementation, the memory of the server may further comprise ofinstructions to perform the operation to cache the processing result ofthe speech stream for a predetermined length of time.

As mentioned above, according to the server provided in the variousembodiments, for each speech request packet received from the terminal,the server generates a speech response packet corresponding to thespeech request packet based on the speech request packet and otherreceived speech request packets corresponding to the speech stream,wherein the speech response packet carries the expected offset positionand the expected data length, and the server feeds back the terminal aspeech response packet so that the terminal may make a determinationabout the next speech request packet to be sent according to this speechresponse packet. According to the above methods, the issue of theinaccurate processing results of the speech stream or the inability ofthe speech stream to be processed during the speech transmission due topacket loss, duplication, and disorder can be solved and avoided in thefuture.

Further, in the case that packet loss and disorder occur in a pluralityof speech request packets, after obtaining the speech sequence,regardless of the number of the missing speech data segments of thespeech sequence, the server generates only the expected offset positionof the first missing speech data segment in the speech stream and itsexpected length data. This can speed up the response speed of the serverand the server will also focus on making the calculation and processingof the speech data segments, thereby saving server overhead.

FIG. 11 shows a diagram of the structure of a terminal according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal can be usedto implement the speech transmission method executed in the terminalside described in the above embodiments. The terminal 1100 may include amemory 120 including one or more computer-readable storage medium and aprocessor 180 including one or more processing cores. Among them, thememory 120 may be used to store software programs and modules, and theprocessor 180 performs a variety of functional applications for speechtransmission and data processing by running the software programs andmodules stored in the memory 120. The memory 120 may include a programstorage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage areamay store an operating system program, an application (such as speechtransmission program or the like) desired by at least one function, andthe like. The data storage area may store the data created based on theusage of the terminal 1100. Further, the memory 120 may also include ahigh-speed random access memory and may also include a nonvolatilememory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory devices,or other volatile solid-state memory devices. Accordingly, the memory120 may also include a memory controller for the processor 180 to accessto the memory 120. The terminal may be a mobile phone, a server, acomputer, or other equipment.

In some applications, the terminal 1100 may further include acommunication unit 110, an input unit 130, a display unit 140, a sensor150, an audio circuit 160, a Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) module 170, and apower supply 190, etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that thestructure of the terminal illustrated in FIG. 11 does not limit theterminal, and the terminal may include more or fewer components, acombination of certain components, or a different arrangement ofcomponents.

The communication unit 110 may send and receive messages or receive andtransmit signals during a call. The communication unit 110 may be anetwork communication device, such as RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, arouter, or a modem. Particularly, when the communication unit 110 is anRF circuit, after receiving the downlink message from the base station,the communication unit 110 sends the downlink message to one or moreprocessors 180 for processing and further sends the uplink data to thebase station. Typically, the RF circuit used as the communication unitincludes, but is not limited to, a communication antenna, at least oneamplifier, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card, a transceiver, a coupler, LNA (Low Noise Amplifier),a duplexer, etc. In addition, the communication unit 110 may alsocommunicate with the network and other devices by wirelesscommunication. The wireless communication may use any communicationstandard or protocol including, but not limited to, GSM (Global Systemof Mobile communication), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (wideband Code Division MultipleAccess), LTE (long Term Evolution), e-mail, SMS (short messagingservice), and so on.

The input unit 130 may receive entered numbers or character informationand generates keyboard, mouse, joystick, optical, or trackball signalinput related to the user settings and control functions. The input unit130 may include an image input device 131 and other input devices 132.The image input device 131 may be a camera or a photoelectric scanningdevice. In addition to the image input device 131, the input unit 130may also include other input devices 132. In particular, other inputdevices 132 may include, but are not limited to, one or more of physicalkeyboard, function keys (such as volume control buttons, switching keys,etc.), track balls, mouse, joystick, and the like.

The display unit 140 may be used to display information input by theuser or information provided to the user and a variety of graphical userinterfaces of the terminal 1100, wherein the graphical user interfacesmay be formed of graphics, text, icons, video, and any combinationthereof. The display unit 140 may include a display panel 141, which maybe formed by using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (OrganicLight-Emitting Diode) and the like.

The sensor 150 may be a light sensor, a motion sensor, or other sensors.The optical sensor may include an ambient light sensor and proximitysensor, wherein the ambient light sensor may adjust the brightness ofthe display panel 141 according to the light and shade of the ambientlight, and the proximity sensor may close the display panel 141/orbacklight when the terminal 1100 moves to ears. As a motion sensor, agravity sensor can detect the acceleration in all directions (usuallytriaxle), and can detect the magnitude and direction of gravity when itstands still and, thus can be used in applications (such as horizontaland vertical screen switch, the relevant Games, calibrated magnetometerattitude) for recognizing the phone posture, in functions (such aspedometer, percussion) related to vibration identification and the like.The terminal 1100 can also be configured with a gyroscope, a barometer,a hygrometer, a thermometer, an infrared sensor, and other sensors andthe detailed description will not be given further herein.

The audio circuit 160, speaker 161, and microphone 162 may provide audiointerfaces between the user and the terminal 1100. The audio circuit 160may transmit the electric signals converted from the received audio datato the speaker 161 and the speaker 161 converts the electric signals tosound signals to output. Additionally, the microphone 162 converts thecollected sound signals into electric signals, the audio circuit 160receives the electric signals and converts them into audio data, andthen outputs the audio data to the processor 180 for processing. Theprocessed audio data may be transmitted to another terminal via the RFcircuit110 or may be output to the memory 120 for further processing.The audio circuit 160 may also include a headset jack to providecommunications between peripherals headset and terminal 1100.

Wi-Fi is a kind of short-range wireless transmission technology, and theterminal 1100 can help users send and receive e-mail, browse the Web,and access streaming media, etc. through the Wi-Fi module 170. Itprovides users with wireless broadband Internet access. Although Figurel1 shows the Wi-Fi module 170, it will be understood that it is not thenecessary part of the terminal 1100, and may be omitted as necessarywithin the scope of the disclosure.

The processor 180 is a control center of the terminal 1100, uses avariety of interfaces and lines to connect the various parts of theentire mobile phone there between, performs various functions and dataprocessing for the terminal 1100 by running or executing the softwareprogram and/or modules stored in the data memory 120 and invoking thedata stored in the memory 120, and thus, monitors the overall mobilephone. Among them, the processor 180 may include one or more processingcores. In addition, the processor 180 may be integrated with applicationprocessors and modem processors, wherein the application processorsprocess the operating system, user interfaces, and applications, and themodem processors process wireless communications. The above modemprocessors may not be integrated into the processor 180.

The power supply 190 (such as a battery) supplies the variouscomponents, and can be logically connected to the processor 180 througha power management system to manage the charging, discharging, and powerconsumption by the power management system. The power supply 190 mayalso include any one of the one or more DC or AC power supplies, arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, power status indicators, etc.

Although not shown, the terminal 1100 may also include a Bluetoothmodule, which will not be described further herein. In variousembodiments, the terminal further includes a memory and one or moreprograms, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory andare configured to be performed by one or more processors. The one ormore programs contain instructions for performing the followingoperations. Sequentially send the server at least one speech requestpacket, each speech request packet carries one speech data segment ofthe speech stream, the expected offset position of the speech datasegment in the speech stream and the data length of the speech datasegment. Receive the speech response packet that is sent by the serverand corresponds to the speech request packet. The speech response packetis generated by the server according to the speech request packet andother received speech request packets corresponding to the speechstream. The speech response packet carries the expected offset positionand the expected data length, wherein the expected offset position isthe expected offset position, in the speech stream, of a speech datasegment in a next speech request packet that is received by the serverand the expected data length is the expected length of the data of thespeech data segment in the next speech request packet that is receivedby the server and makes a determination for sending the next speechrequest packet according to the speech response packet.

Considering the above implementation is a first possible implementation,it is possible to provide a second possible implementation on the basisof the first implementation, and in the second possible implementation,the memory of the terminal may further comprise instructions to performthe following operations. Detect whether the expected data lengthcarried in the speech response packet is equal to a predetermined valueand carry all or part of the speech data segment that has the expectedoffset position and expected data length in the next speech requestpacket for transmitting, when it is detected that the expected datalength carried in the speech response packet does not equal to apredetermined value.

It is possible to provide a third possible implementation on the basisof the second implementation, and in the third possible implementation,the memory of the terminal may further comprise instructions to performthe following operations. Determine whether the speech data segment thathas the expected offset position and expected data length carried in thespeech response packet has been sent, when it is detected that theexpected data length carried in the speech response packet equals to thepredetermined value. Carry the speech data segment in the next speechrequest packet for transmitting, when it is determined that the speechdata segment that has the expected offset position and expected datalength carried in the speech response packet has been sent, and there isstill a speech data segment of the speech stream that has not been sent.Carry the speech data segment with the expected offset position in thenext speech request packet for transmitting when it is determined thatthe speech data segment that has the expected offset position andexpected data length carried in the speech response packet has not beensent yet and a speech data segment with the expected offset positionexists in the speech stream.

It is possible to provide a fourth possible implementation on the basisof the first implementation, and in the fourth possible implementation,the memory of the terminal may further comprise instructions to performthe following operations. For each speech request packet, detect whethera speech response packet corresponding to the received speech requestpacket is received, within a predetermined time interval after thespeech request packet is sent. Resend the speech request packet when itis detected that the speech response packet corresponding to the speechrequest packet has not yet been received.

It is possible to provide a fifth possible implementation on the basisof any one of the first to fourth implementations, and in the fifthpossible implementation, the memory of the terminal may further compriseinstructions to perform the following operations. Carry a request endidentifier in each speech request packet and the request end identifierindicates whether the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket is the last segment of the speech stream.

As mentioned above, according to the terminal provided in the variousembodiments, the terminal sends the server a speech request packetcarrying the speech data segment, the offset position of the speechrequest packet in the speech stream and the data length of the speechdata segment, and after received, the speech response packet that fedback by the server and carries the expected offset position and theexpected data length, the terminal makes a determination for sending thenext speech request packet according to this speech response packet.According to the above methods, the issue of the inaccurate processingresults of the speech stream or the inability of the speech stream to beprocessed during the speech transmission due to packet loss,duplication, and disorder can be solved and avoided in the future.

Further, various embodiments provide a less flawed speech transmissionmechanism, wherein within a predetermined time interval after theterminal sends a speech request packet, the terminal detects whether thespeech response packet corresponding to the speech request packet hasbeen received, and resends the speech request packet when it detectsthat the speech response packet corresponding to the speech requestpacket has not been received, thereby avoiding the influence due to theoccurrence of the speech response packet loss.

It should be understood that, as used herein, unless the context clearlysupports exceptions, the singular forms “a” (“a”, “an”, “the”) areintended to include the plural forms. It should also be understood that,“and/or” used herein is intended to include any and all possiblecombinations of one or more of the associated listed items

The embodiments of the present disclosure are only used for description,and do not represent the merits of the implementations.

Those with ordinary skilled in the art will understand that all or partof the steps to achieve the above-described embodiments may beaccomplished by hardware, or by programs instructing relevant hardware,and the programs may be stored in a computer readable storage medium,the storage medium may be a read-only memory, magnetic or optical disk,etc.

The foregoing are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosureand are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modification,equivalent substitution, and improvement made within the spirit andprinciples of the present disclosure should be included in theprotection scope of the present disclosure.

One skilled in the art may be aware that some exemplary instances ofintelligent terminals and operating systems thereof are listed above indetail; however, such listing is merely provided for description, and isnot intended to limit the protection scope of the implementation mannersof the present disclosure.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in noway intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. Thebroad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety offorms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples,the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since othermodifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, thespecification, and the following claims. It should be understood thatone or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (orconcurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure.Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as havingcertain features, any one or more of those features described withrespect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/orcombined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if thatcombination is not explicitly described. In other words, the describedembodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or moreembodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example,between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) aredescribed using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,”“coupled,” “adjacent,” “next to,” on top of,” “above,” “below,” and“disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when arelationship between first and second elements is described in the abovedisclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where noother intervening elements are present between the first and secondelements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or moreintervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally)between the first and second elements. As used herein, the phrase atleast one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR BOR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed tomean at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

In the figures, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by thearrowhead, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as dataor instructions) that is of interest to the illustration. For example,when element A and element B exchange a variety of information butinformation transmitted from element A to element B is relevant to theillustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. Thisunidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information istransmitted from element B to element A. Further, for information sentfrom element A to element B, element B may send requests for, or receiptacknowledgements of, the information to element A.

In this application, including the definitions below, the term “module”or the term “controller” may be replaced with the term “circuit.” Theterm “module” may refer to, be part of, or include: an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixedanalog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixedanalog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; afield programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared,dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared,dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit;other suitable hardware components that provide the describedfunctionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as ina system-on-chip.

The module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples,the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces that areconnected to a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wide areanetwork (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functionality of any givenmodule of the present disclosure may be distributed among multiplemodules that are connected via interface circuits. For example, multiplemodules may allow load balancing. In a further example, a server (alsoknown as remote, or cloud) module may accomplish some functionality onbehalf of a client module.

The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/ormicrocode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, datastructures, and/or objects. The term shared processor circuitencompasses a single processor circuit that executes some or all codefrom multiple modules. The term group processor circuit encompasses aprocessor circuit that, in combination with additional processorcircuits, executes some or all code from one or more modules. Referencesto multiple processor circuits encompass multiple processor circuits ondiscrete dies, multiple processor circuits on a single die, multiplecores of a single processor circuit, multiple threads of a singleprocessor circuit, or a combination of the above. The term shared memorycircuit encompasses a single memory circuit that stores some or all codefrom multiple modules. The term group memory circuit encompasses amemory circuit that, in combination with additional memories, storessome or all code from one or more modules.

The term memory circuit is a subset of the term computer-readablemedium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does notencompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagatingthrough a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readablemedium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory.Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory, tangible computer-readablemedium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit,an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-onlymemory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static randomaccess memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit),magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or ahard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or aBlu-ray Disc).

The apparatuses and methods described in this application may bepartially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created byconfiguring a general purpose computer to execute one or more particularfunctions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks andflowchart elements described above serve as software specifications,which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine workof a skilled technician or programmer.

The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that arestored on at least one non-transitory, tangible computer-readablemedium. The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data.The computer programs may encompass a basic input/output system (BIOS)that interacts with hardware of the special purpose computer, devicedrivers that interact with particular devices of the special purposecomputer, one or more operating systems, user applications, backgroundservices, background applications, etc.

The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed,such as HTML (hypertext markup language) or XML (extensible markuplanguage), (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from sourcecode by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter,(v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-timecompiler, etc. As examples only, source code may be written using syntaxfrom languages including C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go,SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®,HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active ServerPages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk,Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python®.

None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be ameans-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. §112(f)unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for,” orin the case of a method claim using the phrases “operation for” or “stepfor.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A speech transmission method, comprising:receiving at least one speech request packet sequentially sent by aterminal; wherein each speech request packet carries one speech datasegment of a speech stream, an offset position of the speech datasegment in the speech stream, and a data length of the speech datasegment; for each speech request packet, generating a speech responsepacket corresponding to the speech request packet according to thespeech request packet and other received speech request packetscorresponding to the speech stream; wherein the speech response packetcarries an expected offset position and an expected data length, whereinthe expected offset position is the expected offset position, in thespeech stream, of a speech data segment in a next speech request packetthat is received by a server; and the expected data length is theexpected length of the data of the speech data segment in the nextspeech request packet that is received by the server; and feeding backthe speech response packet to the terminal, so that the terminal canmake a determination for sending the next speech request packetaccording to the speech response packet.
 2. The speech transmissionmethod of claim 1, wherein for each speech request packet, generating aspeech response packet corresponding to the speech request packetaccording to the speech request packet and other received speech requestpackets corresponding to the speech stream comprises: for each speechrequest packet, sorting the speech data segments carried in the speechrequest packet and other respective speech request packets according tothe offset positions to obtain a speech sequence; determining whetherthe speech sequence lacks a speech data segment; when it is determinedthat the speech sequence lacks a speech data segment, generating anexpected offset position according to the offset position, in the speechstream, of the missing speech data segment, and generating an expecteddata length according to the data length of the missing speech datasegment; and when it is determined that the speech sequence does notlack a speech data segment, generating an expected offset positionaccording to the end position of the speech sequence and configuring theexpected data length as a preset value.
 3. The speech transmissionmethod of claim 2, the process of generating the expected offsetposition according to the offset position, in the speech stream, of themissing speech data segment and generating the expected data lengthaccording to the data length of the missing speech data segmentcomprise: when the speech sequence lacks two or more speech datasegments, generating the expected offset position according to theoffset position, in the speech stream, of the first missing speech datasegment in the speech sequence, and generating the expected data lengthaccording to the data length of the first missing speech data segment inthe speech sequence.
 4. The speech transmission method of claim 2, eachspeech request packet carries a request end identifier, and the requestend identifier denotes whether the speech data segment carried in thespeech request packet is the last segment of the speech stream; theprocess of generating the expected offset position according to the endposition of the speech sequence comprises: adding 1 to the end positionof the speech sequence to generate the expected offset position when allthe received request end identifiers are False.
 5. The speechtransmission method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting whetherthe speech data segment carried in the speech request packet is alreadyreceived in other speech request packets; and when it detects that thespeech data segment carried in the speech request packet is alreadyreceived, a de-duplication process is performed for the speech datasegment carried in the speech request packet.
 6. The speech transmissionmethod of claim 1, each speech request packet carries a request endidentifier, and the request end identifier denotes whether the speechdata segment carried in the speech request packet is the last segment ofthe speech stream; the process of for each speech request packet,generating a speech response packet corresponding to the speech requestpacket according to the speech request packet and other received speechrequest packets corresponding to the speech stream further comprises:adding a processing result of the speech stream into the speech responsepacket when the request end identifier carried in the speech requestpacket is True and all speech data segments of the speech stream havebeen received.
 7. The speech transmission method of a claim 6, furthercomprising: caching the processing result of the speech stream for apredetermined length of time.
 8. A speech transmission method,comprising: sequentially sending a server at least one speech requestpacket, wherein each speech request packet carries one speech datasegment of the speech stream, an expected offset position of the speechdata segment in the speech stream and a data length of the speech datasegment; receiving a speech response packet which is sent by the serverand corresponds to the speech request packet; wherein the speechresponse packet is generated by the server according to the speechrequest packet and other received speech request packets correspondingto the speech stream; the speech response packet carries the expectedoffset position and the expected data length, wherein the expectedoffset position is the expected offset position, in the speech stream,of a speech data segment in a next speech request packet that isreceived by the server; and the expected data length is the expectedlength of the data of the speech data segment in the next speech requestpacket that is received by the server; and making a determination forsending the next speech request packet according to the speech responsepacket.
 9. The speech transmission method of claim 8, the process ofmaking a determination for sending the next speech request packetaccording to the speech response packet comprises: detecting whether theexpected data length carried in the speech response packet equals to apredetermined value; and when it is detected that the expected datalength carried in the speech response packet does not equal to thepredetermined value, carrying all or part of the speech data segmentthat has the expected offset position and expected data length in thenext speech request packet for transmitting.
 10. The speech transmissionmethod of claim 9, after the process of detecting whether the expecteddata length carried in the speech response packet equals to apredetermined value, the speech transmission method further comprises:when it is detected that the expected data length carried in the speechresponse packet equals to the predetermined value, judging whether thespeech data segment that has the expected offset position and expecteddata length carried in the speech response packet has been sent; when itis judged that the speech data segment that has the expected offsetposition and expected data length carried in the speech response packethas been sent, and there is still a speech data segment of the speechstream that has not been sent, carrying the speech data segment in thenext speech request packet for transmitting; and when it is judged thatthe speech data segment that has the expected offset position andexpected data length carried in the speech response packet has not beensent yet and a speech data segment with the expected offset positionexists in the speech stream, carrying the speech data segment with theexpected offset position in the next speech request packet fortransmitting.
 11. The speech transmission method of claim 8, furthercomprising: for each speech request packet, detecting whether a speechresponse packet corresponding to the received speech request packet isreceived, within a predetermined time interval after the speech requestpacket is sent; and resending the speech request packet when it isdetected that the speech response packet corresponding to the speechrequest packet has not been received yet.
 12. The speech transmissionmethod of claim 8, further comprising: carrying a request end identifierin each speech request packet, wherein the request end identifierindicates whether the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket is the last segment of the speech stream.
 13. A speechtransmission apparatus, comprising: a processor and a memory incommunication with the processor; the memory stores a group ofmachine-readable instructions which may be executed by the processor;wherein the machine-readable instructions comprise: a request receivingmodule, adapted to receive at least one speech request packetsequentially sent by a terminal, wherein each speech request packetcarries one speech data segment of the speech stream, an offset positionof the speech data segment in the speech stream, and a data length ofthe speech data segment; a response generating module, adapted to foreach speech request packet generate a speech response packetcorresponding to the speech request packet according to the speechrequest packet and other received speech request packets correspondingto the speech stream, wherein the speech response packet carries theexpected offset position and the expected data length, wherein theexpected offset position is the expected offset position, in the speechstream, of the speech data segment in a next speech request packet thatis received by the server; and the expected data length is the expectedlength of the data of the speech data segment in the next speech requestpacket that is received by the server; and a response feedback module,adapted to feed back the speech response packet to the terminal, so thatthe terminal can make a determination for sending the next speechrequest packet according to the speech response packet.
 14. The speechtransmission apparatus of claim 13, the response generating modulecomprises a speech sorting unit, a lack judging unit, a first executionunit and a second execution unit; the speech sorting unit is adapted tofor each speech request packet, sort the speech data segments carried inthe speech request packet and other respective speech request packetsaccording to the offset positions to obtain a speech sequence; the lackjudging unit is adapted to determine whether the speech sequence lacks aspeech data segment; the first execution unit is adapted to generate theexpected offset position according to the offset position, in the speechstream, of the missing speech data segment, and generate the expecteddata length according to the data length of the missing speech datasegment, when the lack judging unit determines that the speech sequencelacks a speech data segment; and the second execution unit is adapted togenerate the expected offset position according to the end position ofthe speech sequence and configures the expected data length as a presetvalue, when the lack judging unit determines that the speech sequencedoes not lack a speech data segment.
 15. The speech transmissionapparatus of claim 14, the first execution unit is further adapted togenerate the expected offset position according to the offset position,in the speech stream, of the first missing speech data segment in thespeech sequence and generate the expected data length according to thedata length of the first missing speech data segment in the speechsequence, when the speech sequence lacks two or more speech datasegments.
 16. The speech transmission apparatus of claim 14, each speechrequest packet carries a request end identifier, and the request endidentifier denotes whether the speech data segment carried in the speechrequest packet is the last segment of the speech stream; the secondexecution unit is further adapted to add 1 to the end position of thespeech sequence to generate the expected offset position when all thereceived request end identifiers are False.
 17. The speech transmissionapparatus of claim 13, the response generating module further comprises:a speech detecting unit and a de-duplicating unit; the speech detectingunit is adapted to detect whether the speech data segment carried in thespeech request packet is already received in other speech requestpackets; and the de-duplicating unit is adapted to performde-duplication processing for the speech data segment carried in thespeech request packet when the speech detecting unit detects that thespeech data segment has been received in other speech request packets.18. The speech transmission apparatus of claim 13, each speech requestpacket carries a request end identifier, and the request end identifierdenotes whether the speech data segment carried in the speech requestpacket is the last segment of the speech stream; the response generatingmodule further comprises: a result adding unit, adapted to add aprocessing result of the speech stream into the speech response packetwhen the request end identifier carried in the speech request packet isTrue and all speech data segments of the speech stream have beenreceived.
 19. The speech transmission apparatus of claim 18, theinstructions further comprises: a result caching module, adapted tocache the processing result of the speech stream for a predeterminedlength of time.